Chatlyn Secures €8 Million to Build AI Brain for Hotels and Transform Guest Communication

Austrian TravelTech Startup chatlyn Secures €8 Million to Develop AI for Hotel Operations

Vienna-based chatlyn, an AI communication platform focused on hospitality, has raised €8 million in Series A funding. The startup aims to develop what it calls “the AI brain for hotels,” a system designed to support hotel operations such as front desk management, reservations, marketing, and guest services. This AI hub automates and optimizes guest communications to enhance both revenue and customer satisfaction.

The funding round was led by Smedvig Ventures and included contributions from business angel Andreas Burike of AnyDesk, Austrian transport company Blaguss, and strategic hospitality investors. Additionally, chatlyn received an innovation grant from Austria’s national funding institution for industry-related research and development (FFG).

Solving Key Challenges in Hotel Guest Communication

Hotels often lose revenue due to slow or missed guest inquiries, especially outside regular hours. Staff may struggle to respond promptly in the guest's preferred language, causing delays or lost bookings. Nicolas Vorsteher, chatlyn’s CEO and Co-founder, highlights that immediate, relevant responses are critical to capturing potential guests.

chatlyn’s AI understands the hospitality context and communicates fluently in over 35 languages. It adapts to each hotel’s unique tone, enabling personalized and effortless guest interactions while freeing staff to focus on in-person service.

How chatlyn Works

Founded in 2022 by Nicolas Vorsteher (CEO), Michael Urbanek (CTO), and Matthias Haubner (CPO), chatlyn centralizes guest messaging across more than 10 channels, including email, WhatsApp, SMS, webchat, and social media.

• Intelligent automation streamlines responses.
• Real-time translation supports over 35 languages.
• Integration with property management systems (PMS) connects communications with hotel operations.

The platform suits a range of properties, from boutique hotels to global chains, aiming to improve operational efficiency and increase revenue by simplifying communication workflows.

Industry Pain Points Addressed

According to chatlyn’s data, the global hotel industry loses around €10 billion each year due to fragmented guest communication, missed booking chances, and inefficient staff workflows. Hotels typically manage communications via 8 to 12 different platforms, which complicates providing rapid, personalized service.

Guests expect instant responses, but staff can get overwhelmed by repetitive tasks and platform juggling. chatlyn reduces this friction by unifying messaging channels and automating routine inquiries.

Customer Success: InterContinental Vienna

Garry Loefgen, Head of Commercial at InterContinental Vienna, reports that chatlyn transformed their guest communication from reactive to proactive. The AI assistant manages over 70% of inquiries instantly, delivering replies in multiple languages including German, English, and Spanish.

This allows hotel staff to concentrate on creating memorable guest experiences, while the AI handles multilingual communication 24/7 and improves over time.

Innovations Driving chatlyn’s Growth

Since its late 2022 launch, chatlyn serves more than 1,000 properties across 30 countries, including luxury brands like St. Regis Mauritius and Singer Palace Rome. Key platform features include:

• AI-Powered Visual Webchat: A conversational assistant that displays rooms with live pricing and availability, guiding guests through bookings.
• High Engagement Messaging: WhatsApp guest journey messages achieve a 98% open rate, compared to the typical 20% for email.
• Comprehensive Channel Integration: Supports industry-specific messengers like Booking.com as well as common platforms such as WhatsApp, SMS, and social media.
• Full AI Assistant Suite: Handles voice calls, review responses, and automates email drafts with brand-consistent reply suggestions and real-time translation.

chatlyn integrates deeply with over 20 major hotel management systems, including Oracle Opera, Protel by Planet, Apaleo, and Mews, positioning itself as a central hub for hotel operations.

Investor Perspective and Market Potential

Freddie Kalfayan, Principal at Smedvig Ventures, emphasizes that chatlyn is at the forefront of the hospitality sector’s technological shift. The platform’s rapid adoption by premium brands, unique AI capabilities, and strong founding team make it well-positioned to lead future guest communication solutions.

The opportunity is significant, with many hotels lacking efficient, AI-driven communication tools.

Plans for Series A Funding Use

chatlyn will use the new capital to accelerate growth in three areas:

• Product Innovation: Develop agentic AI for phone support and launch an AI Booking Assistant to capture more direct bookings across all channels.
• Geographic Expansion: Strengthen leadership in German-speaking markets and expand into Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the UAE, where demand for multilingual AI is increasing.
• Team Expansion: Grow AI and development teams to provide not just software but also AI consultancy, staying ahead in the competitive AI talent market.

Michael Urbanek, CTO and Co-founder, notes that chatlyn’s AI goes beyond automation. It understands context, anticipates guest needs, and helps create experiences that convert first-time visitors into loyal customers.

For operations and product development professionals in hospitality, chatlyn’s approach offers practical ways to streamline guest interactions, reduce manual workload, and directly impact revenue. Investing in AI communication tools like chatlyn can be a strategic move to improve both guest satisfaction and operational performance.